‘There is still time to work together’: Tett

Hayley O'Keeffe

County leader Martin Tett has issued a direct appeal for unity to district councils over their unitary plans.

On Tuesday, Aylesbury Vale District Council and the three southern district councils announced that they are commissioning a study on the case for unitary. AVDC has previously signalled its wish to break away from the county council, and commissioned a business case.

And following a letter from district leader Martin Tett urging for all sides to work together on one case for a more streamlined authority the councils issued the following statement: “Earlier this month all four districts were approached by Bucks County Council to join with them in preparing a business case for a single unitary council for Buckinghamshire.

“After careful consideration they declined this offer and agreed to commission a totally independent review.”

But Mr Tett urged the councils to reconsider, saying that the review would be a waste of taxpayers money, and that any case should incorporate all authorities in Bucks.

He said: “At a time when councils are putting up car parking charges, spending thousands of pounds on something like this doesn’t seem right.

“These types of review, by expensive companies are designed to tell the commissioners exactly what they want to hear.

“I would urge them all to put their differences aside if they have them and come back to work with us.”

He added: “We have been clear for some time that local government can no longer afford the muddle and cost of having parish/town, district and county councils covering the same area.

“Why do we need so many chief executives, finance and personnel departments etc. when we should be spending this money on services for residents?”